Colon cancer is the #2 cancer killer in the U.S. and is avoidable if detected early.
This cancer may show no symptoms until it is advanced.

Current medical guidelines recommend routine screening for colorectal (colon) cancer for men and women at average risk between the ages of 50 and 74.

You may choose between two options that are considered equally effective. Please review the benefits and risks below and let your provider know which test you would prefer.
Test Benefits Risk
FIT (fecal immunochemical test)
  • Inexpensive
  • Can be done in the privacy of your home
  • Requires no advance preparation, changes to your diet or loss of time from work
  • Noninvasive; no risk of abdominal cramping, bowel tears or infections
  • Minimal handling of stool
  • There is strong evidence that stool screening with FIT (followed by colonoscopy when positive) decreases deaths from colon cancer
  • Colonoscopy is required if FIT is abnormal
  • May fail to detect cancer; high rate of false negatives
  • Must be done annually to be an effective screening method – only considered effective if done every year
  • Focused on early detection rather than prevention of colon cancer
Colonoscopy
  • Views entire colon; direct visualization techniques offer greater sensitivity for adenomas
  • Has potential to prevent colon cancer by detecting and removing polyps
  • Requires testing only every 10 years
  • Higher cost
  • Invasive
  • Requires full bowel prep with dietary and medication changes; less effective if bowel prep is incomplete
  • Sedation usually needed
  • Requires loss of time from work; someone will need to drive you home
  • Risk of discomfort, abdominal cramping and bowel tears